After a tense White House meeting, President Donald Trump signalled a shift in his Ukraine policy, favouring a swift resolution that aligns with Russian interests and causing concern among Ukrainian officials.
On Friday, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discussing the possible provision of U.S. long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. Despite Zelenskyy’s hopes, talks concluded without any commitment to supply these weapons.
Instead, Trump urged Ukraine to accept Russia’s demands to end the conflict, including ceding the Donbas region, the heart of the ongoing fighting.
“It’s cut up right now, I think 78% of the land is already taken by Russia,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “They should stop right now at the battle lines. Go home, stop killing people and be done.”
The meeting reportedly deteriorated into a shouting match, with Trump frequently swearing and dismissing Ukrainian concerns. Trump relayed a warning from Putin, delivered during a recent phone call, that Russia would “destroy” Ukraine if it rejected Moscow’s demands. Both leaders agreed to pursue further talks in Hungary, though Zelenskyy’s participation remains uncertain.
Despite the fraught meeting, Zelenskyy maintained a composed front in an NBC interview, stating: “We are not losing this war, and Putin is not winning.” While the missile supply was not confirmed, he said, “It’s good that President Trump didn’t say ‘no,’ but for today, didn’t say ‘yes.’”
He also expressed readiness to join the upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Budapest, with some reservations given Hungary’s close relations with Moscow.
Experts criticised Trump for an inconsistent approach, neither fully supporting Ukraine militarily nor applying economic pressure on Russia. Nina Khrushcheva from The New School described Trump as “transactional,” attempting to balance both sides, hoping to win Putin over while maintaining control.
Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution warned Putin might wait him out, urging a strategy combining military aid to Kyiv with enhanced sanctions targeting Russia’s economic lifelines, urging countries like India and China to reduce trade with Russia under threat of secondary sanctions.
The Kremlin welcomed Trump’s mediation efforts, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov affirming Moscow’s approval, while the White House refrained from further comment.